Safety-car



(No Model.)

P. D.KN1GHT.

SAFETY GAR.

Patented June Z1, 1887.

- WITJVEssEs L/ 3. ff

" Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT (DEEICE,

FRANK D. KNIGHT, or HUDsoN, iiIAssAcIIUsETTs.V

SAFETY-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,309, dated June 21, 18e?.

` Application filed March 12, i887. Serial No. 230,700. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FRANK DAVID KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hudson, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Preventing the Dei-ailment of Cars; and Ido declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others'skilled in the 'art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side view of a car-truck with my invention attached. Fig. 2 is a bottom vie'w of a cartruck with my inventionv attached. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section`of runner. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of runner.

This invention has relation to devices to prevent the derailment of railroadcars, and its `in each form.

object is to avoid the deplorable casualties which arise from raised or broken rails, misplaced switches, broken wheels or journals, Snc.

In the accompanying drawings,'the letter A designates a car-truck, and B B the axle-boxes.

C C are the Wheels, and D D the journal portion of the axles E E.

P P are the pedestals or frame-castings in which the axle-boxes are located.

F F indicate the flanged runners or shoes, which are shown as applied to each Wheel separat-ely, but which may be made longer and larger and applied to all the wheels on one side of the truck, a slot being provided for each wheel. The runner or sledishoe F may be made in different forms, according to the style of truck, but its principal features will exist The runner is constructed with a smooth base portion, G, which is rounded or curved upward at each end, so that it will take in the end of a displaced or broken rail, should such rail happen to be raised fourinches above the ordinary level; andthe base is slotted to allow the wheel of the car to extend downward through it to the track, as indicated at H. The base is made considerably wider than the wheel, so that there is a sliding surface, as indicated at K, on each side of the wheel wide enough to catch on the rail in case the wheel leaves'the track, or to embrace the laterallydeiiected end of a rail, or of a broken part thereof, whether the deflection be on one side or the other of the approaching wheel. This runner or shoe is formed with the catch-flanges L on each side, extending upward and outward along the edges of the curved ends, as shown. From the shoe extends upward a short outer standard or bearing, N, which isdesigned to be bolted to the bottom of the pedestal or boxeasting I). Inside orv back of the wheel is formed the long standard attachmentcolumn S, which extends upward and is provided with a catch-bearing for the axle of the wheel, as indicated at Z, and is bolted to the inner timber, T, or other fixed portion of the truckframe back of the wheel.

In case of an accident where the wheels of the truck leave the track the shoes catch thereon at once, and the wheel coming down, becauseof the fallingjournal, in the slot,"whicl1 is made of less size than a section of the wheel below the center, and preferably of similar form, fills the slot and braces the runner, so that the car slips along on the rail until the train is stopped, the friction between the runner and rail aiding in the braking. So, also, in case of an accident on account of a broken or misplaced rail, when the wheel leaves the track the runners will slide forward, and,.embracing the broken or displaced end of the rail in front, will draw it inward, catch again, and allow the car to slide on the rails until stopped. In case of a Inisplaced switch, the outwardly-extending flanges of the shoe will draw the switch-rails to place before the wheels come upon them; and if a journal should break the weight of the car brings the shoe to bear, the wheel moving upward in the slot-of the shoe. At the same time the bearing back of the wheel secures the axle-shaft.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A safety-catch runner for railway-trucks, having a slot, through which the wheel projects downward, of less size than a section of the wheel below the center, and on each side of said slot guidingsurfaces curved upward at their ends and provided with edge flanges extending upward and outward along the arms, said ruimer being provided with standards of unequal height, one outside of and the other IOO back of the wheel, where it is adapted to t under the box-frame and under the timbers of the truck, substantially as specified.

2. A safety-catch runner for a railway-truck, having a slot through which the Wheel projects downward, bearing-surfaces on each side of said slot, having edge flanges and standards of unequal length, one adapted to fit under the box-frame and the other having a verticallyextended shaft slot or opening under the timbers of the truck, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a slotted langed safety-runner having a short outer pedestal standard or bearingand a long inner standard formed with a vertically-extended axle slot or opening, of thcwheel, its shaft, the boxing,

frame, casting, and the attachments thereof, substantially as specied.

4. The combination, with the car-truck and a verticallymovable axle in connection therewith, carrying the Wheels, of a safety-runner attachment rigidly connected to the truck and slotted for the Wheels to project through and to allow play for the axle, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK D. KNIGHT.

VitIlesses:

PIIILIP C. MASI, TIIEo. MUNGIIN. 

